NEW YORK — When Michigan’s basketball team traveled to Brooklyn, N.Y. last season approaching the holidays, the Wolverines were 10-0. Saturday, back at the Barclays Center, Michigan was sitting at 6-4 and searching for some reassurance in the form of a quality win.

The Wolverines got it, beating Stanford 68-65 in a game coach John Beilein and his players felt they had to have.

“It would have been a difficult holiday season here if we had not won that game,” Beilein said. “Basically because it is the same scenario we just went through. We had to make shots.”

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Where Michigan faltered in close games down the stretch against elite teams like Arizona and Duke and in upset losses to Iowa State and Charlotte, the Wolverines found a way to get a win despite not playing their best against Stanford.

Michigan hoisted 28 3-pointers, making only eight of them. Yet, the Wolverines got to the free throw line and locked down on defense when it counted to hold off a Cardinal team that got going far too late.

“This year, coming into this game, really we just needed a quality win,” said Nick Stauskas, who led Michigan with 19 points. “So far Florida State has really been the one team that we beat that’s been really good. We were looking for a quality win to show that we’ve made improvements and could close out a game. This week was a tough week of practice and we just wanted to show we are getting better.

“It’s a great feeling to grind out a win against a really good team. We had some losses this year where this type of situation went the wrong way for us. So to finally get one and grind it out felt great.”

Michigan also won despite being without starting center Mitch McGary, whose time of absence is unknown after being injured crashing into the basket padding during practice. Beilein said McGary will have tests done once the team returns to Ann Arbor.

“His whole body is sore,” Beilein said. “He ran hard into the basket and went right down and then got back up and ran down the court, but the next couple days he was really sore. So we don’t know what’s causing the soreness, but he’s really banged up, head to toe.”

Witout McGary, Michigan used jumbled lineups that included Glenn Robinson III seeing some time at center. Whatever it takes. That’s the attitude the Wolverines are working with as they hope to hit their stride entering Big Ten play after the New Year.

“Right now we’re just focusing on getting better every day in practice but the games that we have played like this, that will help us in the Big Ten and hopefully in the (NCAA) tournament,” Robinson said. “The ball hasn’t always bounced our way so far, but I think if we keep practicing the way that we are and keep getting better the sky is the limit for this team.”